System and method for call forwarding synchronization in a communication system

ABSTRACT

In one aspect of the invention, a method for call forwarding synchronization includes allowing a telephone subsystem to forward calls for a telephonic device to a first call forwarding destination. The method also includes allowing a wireless subsystem to forward calls for a mobile station to a second call forwarding destination. The mobile station is associated with the telephonic device. The method further includes determining a registration state of the mobile station. In addition, the method includes synchronizing the call forwarding destinations for the mobile station and the telephonic device in response to a change to at least one of the registration state, the first call forwarding destination, and the second call forwarding destination.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATIONS

This application shares a common specification with U.S. applicationSer. No. 09/782,133 filed on Feb. 2, 2001 for a “System and Method forCall Forwarding in a Communication System.”

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of communication systems,and more particularly to a system and method for call forwardingsynchronization in a communication system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Call forwarding is a feature typically supported in many communicationsystems. Call forwarding allows a user in the communication system toforward telephone calls directed at one telephone device to anothertelephone device. To use the call forwarding feature, the user or“subscriber” typically needs to enter a code in the telephone beingforwarded and instruct the telephone system where to forward the calls.

A problem with conventional communication systems is that the usertypically needs to manually activate and deactivate the call forwardingfeature. For example, an employee of a company may have a wirelessmobile phone, also called a “mobile station,” and a desk phone. Toforward calls from the desk phone to the mobile phone, the employeeneeds to manually instruct the telephone system to forward calls for thedesk phone to the mobile phone. If the employee wants to deactivate thecall forwarding feature before leaving work, the employee must pick up aphone and manually deactivate the call forwarding feature in thetelephone system. This is a time consuming process. If the employeeoften changes locations throughout the day, it becomes even more timeconsuming to forward and unforward multiple telephones.

Because the user typically must activate and deactivate the callforwarding feature manually, the user may forgot to turn the callforwarding feature for one or more telephones on or off. As a result,the call forwarding for the telephones may become unsynchronized. Forexample, a user's mobile phone may be forwarded to one location whilethe user's desk phone may be forwarded to another location. When thecall forwarding becomes unsynchronized, the user may receive calls atunwanted times or at unwanted telephones. Also, a person attempting tocontact the user may be unable to reach the user because calls to theuser's telephones are being forwarded to different locations.

As a result of any of these or other disadvantages, previous callforwarding synchronization techniques have been inadequate in manycommunication systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a system and method for callforwarding synchronization in a communication system are provided thatsubstantially eliminate or reduce disadvantages and problems associatedwith conventional systems. In particular, a communication system helpsto ensure that a mobile station and a telephonic device are eitherforwarded to the same location, or one of the devices is forwarded tothe other device.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system for callforwarding synchronization includes a telephone subsystem operable tocommunicate with a telephonic device. The telephone subsystem is alsooperable to forward calls for the telephonic device to a first callforwarding destination. The system also includes a wireless subsystemoperable to communicate with a mobile station. The mobile station isassociated with the telephonic device. The wireless subsystem is alsooperable to forward calls for the mobile station to a second callforwarding destination. The wireless subsystem is further operable todetermine a registration state of the mobile station and to synchronizethe call forwarding destinations for the mobile station and thetelephonic device in response to a change to at least one of theregistration state, the first call forwarding destination, and thesecond call forwarding destination.

In another embodiment of the invention, a method for call forwardingsynchronization includes allowing a telephone subsystem to forward callsfor a telephonic device to a first call forwarding destination. Themethod also includes allowing a wireless subsystem to forward calls fora mobile station to a second call forwarding destination. The mobilestation is associated with the telephonic device. The method furtherincludes determining a registration state of the mobile station. Inaddition, the method includes synchronizing the call forwardingdestinations for the mobile station and the telephonic device inresponse to a change to at least one of the registration state, thefirst call forwarding destination, and the second call forwardingdestination.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, a system for call forwardingsynchronization includes a telephone subsystem operable to communicatewith a telephonic device. The telephone subsystem is also operable toforward calls for the telephonic device to a first call forwardingdestination. The system also includes a client operable to communicatewith the telephonic subsystem. The client is associated with thetelephonic device. The system further includes a gateway operable tocommunicate with the client. In addition, the system includes agatekeeper operable to instruct the gateway to forward calls for theclient to a second call forwarding destination. The gatekeeper is alsooperable to determine an activation state of the client and tosynchronize the call forwarding destinations for the telephonic deviceand the client in response to a change to at least one of the activationstate, the first call forwarding destination, and the second callforwarding destination.

Numerous technical advantages are provided according to variousembodiments of the present invention. Particular embodiments of theinvention may exhibit none, some, or all of the following advantages.For example, in one embodiment, a system for call forwardingsynchronization is provided. In a particular embodiment, the systemhelps to synchronize the call forwarding destinations of a telephonicdevice and a mobile station when the mobile station registers with thecommunication system. For example, after detecting the mobile stationregistration, the system may determine whether the mobile station andthe telephonic device are forwarded to the same location, or whether oneof the devices is forwarded to the other device. If not, the systemforwards one of the devices to the appropriate location. By detectingthe registration of the mobile station in the communication system andsynchronizing the call forwarding destinations, the system reduces oreliminates the need for the subscriber to manually synchronize the callforwarding destinations. The system may forward telephone calls to thesubscriber's mobile station, the subscriber's telephonic device, oranother location without having to wait for the subscriber to manuallyforward the calls. The system may also change or deactivate the callforwarding feature when needed to maintain synchronization between themobile station and the telephonic device. This also reduces oreliminates the need for the subscriber to manually deactivate or changethe call forwarding feature.

Another advantage of at least some embodiments of the invention is thatthe subscriber may be contacted using a single telephone number and/orextension number. In a particular embodiment, the system helps to ensurethat a telephonic device and a mobile station are forwarded to the samedestination, or that one of the devices is forwarded to the other. As aresult, a person attempting to contact the subscriber may need to dialonly one telephone number to reach the subscriber. By maintainingsynchronization between the call forwarding destinations, the systemhelps to ensure that a telephone call to the subscriber is delivered tothe same destination, whether the person calling the subscriber dialsthe subscriber's mobile station or telephonic device. This helps toincrease the ease at which the subscriber may be contacted.

Other technical advantages are readily apparent to one of skill in theart from the attached figures, description, and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To provide a more complete understanding of the present invention andfeatures and advantages thereof, reference is made to the followingdescription in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary system for callforwarding;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating another exemplary system for callforwarding;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method for callforwarding in a communication system;

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method for forwardingcalls for a telephone to a mobile station;

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating another exemplary method forforwarding calls for a telephone to a mobile station;

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating yet another exemplary method forforwarding calls for a telephone to a mobile station;

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method forsynchronizing call forwarding in a communication system;

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method forestablishing a call forwarding destination for a mobile station;

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method forestablishing a call forwarding destination for a telephone associatedwith a mobile station;

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating another exemplary method forestablishing a call forwarding destination for a telephone associatedwith a mobile station;

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method forestablishing a call forwarding destination for a telephone associatedwith a deregistered mobile station;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating yet another exemplary system forcall forwarding;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating still another exemplary systemfor call forwarding; and

FIG. 14 is a flow diagram illustrating another exemplary method for callforwarding in a communication system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary system 100 for callforwarding. In the illustrated embodiment, system 100 includes awireless subsystem 102, a packet subsystem 104, and a telephonesubsystem 106. Other embodiments of system 100 may be used withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention.

In one aspect of operation, one or more mobile stations 108 communicatewith wireless subsystem 102, and one or more telephones 110 communicatewith telephone subsystem 106. A mobile station 108 may be associatedwith one or more telephones 110, such as when a subscriber using mobilestation 108 also has a desk telephone 110 in an office. When mobilestation 108 registers with wireless subsystem 102 and/or packetsubsystem 104, telephone calls directed at telephone 110 may beforwarded to mobile station 108. For example, a call forwarding feature(CF) 112 in telephone subsystem 106 may be used to forward calls for theassociated telephone 110 to mobile station 108. When mobile station 108deregisters with wireless subsystem 102 and/or packet subsystem 104,system 100 may stop forwarding calls for telephone 110 to mobile station108. By forwarding telephone calls to mobile station 108 when mobilestation 108 registers with system 100 and unforwarding telephone 110when mobile station 108 deregisters with system 100, system 100 reducesor eliminates the need for a subscriber to manually forward andunforward telephone 110. This also reduces or eliminates the likelihoodthat the subscriber using mobile station 108 will forget to activate ordeactivate the call forwarding feature. In addition, the subscriberusing mobile station 108 may be contacted using a single telephonenumber and/or extension number. Because system 100 automaticallyforwards telephone calls for telephone 110 to mobile station 108, aperson attempting to contact the subscriber need dial only one telephonenumber, and the subscriber will receive the telephone call on mobilestation 108.

Wireless subsystem 102 is coupled to packet subsystem 104. In thisdocument, the term “couple” refers to any direct or indirectcommunication between two or more elements, whether or not thoseelements are in physical contact with one another. Wireless subsystem102 communicates with mobile station 108 over a wireless interface.Wireless subsystem 102 also allows mobile station 108 to communicatewith telephone subsystem 106 through packet subsystem 104. Wirelesssubsystem 102 may, for example, receive information from mobile station108 and communicate the information to packet subsystem 104. Wirelesssubsystem 102 may also receive information from packet subsystem 104 andcommunicate the information to mobile station 108. Wireless subsystem102 may comprise any hardware, software, firmware, or combinationthereof operable to communicate with mobile station 108 over a wirelessinterface. Wireless subsystem 102 may, for example, comprise a GlobalSystem for Mobile communication (GSM) system, an Electronic IndustryAlliance/Telecommunication Industry Association (EIA/TIA) IS-136 system,or a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system.

Packet subsystem 104 is coupled to wireless subsystem 102 and telephonesubsystem 106. Packet subsystem 104 is operable to transfer informationbetween wireless subsystem 102 and telephone subsystem 106. Packetsubsystem 104 may, for example, transport datagrams containinginformation between wireless subsystem 102 and telephone subsystem 106.Packet subsystem 104 may comprise any hardware, software, firmware, orcombination thereof operable to transport datagrams between wirelesssubsystem 102 and telephone subsystem 106. In one embodiment, packetsubsystem 104 supports the International TelecommunicationsUnion-Telecommunications (ITU-T) H.323 protocols to transport datagramsbetween wireless subsystem 102 and telephone subsystem 106.

Packet subsystem 104 may communicate with telephone subsystem 106 usingone or more interfaces. In one embodiment, packet subsystem 104communicates bearer traffic over an interface 114, and packet subsystem104 communicates signaling information over interface 114 and/or aComputer Telephony Integration (CTI) interface 116. Interface 114 maycomprise any suitable interface operable to transport bearer and/orsignaling traffic, such as a trunk interface or a plurality of lineinterfaces. CTI interface 116 may, for example, comprise an Ethernet oran X.25 packet interface.

Packet subsystem 104 may communicate with wireless subsystem 102 usingone or more clients 122. Client 122 may, for example, receiveinformation from mobile station 108 through wireless subsystem 102,place the information into one or more datagrams, and communicate thedatagrams across packet subsystem 104. Client 122 may also receive oneor more datagrams over packet subsystem 104 from telephone subsystem106, extract the information contained in the datagrams, and communicatethe information to mobile station 108 through wireless subsystem 102.Client 122 may comprise any hardware, software, firmware, or combinationthereof operable to facilitate communication between wireless subsystem102 and packet subsystem 104. In one embodiment, client 122 comprises awireless adjunct internet platform or other suitable gateway to wirelesssubsystem 102.

Telephone subsystem 106 is coupled to packet subsystem 104 and to one ormore telephones 110. Telephone subsystem 106 facilitates communicationwith telephones 110. Telephone subsystem 106 may, for example, establisha telephone call between a first telephone 110 a and a second telephone110 b. Telephone subsystem 106 may also facilitate communication betweena telephone 110 and a mobile station 108 by communicating with packetsubsystem 104 over interfaces 114 and/or 116. Telephone subsystem 106may comprise any suitable hardware, software, firmware, or combinationthereof operable to facilitate communication between telephone 110 andmobile station 108. Telephone subsystem 106 may, for example, comprise aprivate branch exchange (PBX), a Key System, a central office switch, awireless telephone switch, a packet-based soft switch, or any othersuitable circuit-switched and/or packet-switched system.

In the illustrated embodiment, telephone subsystem 106 includes at leastone processor 118 operable to execute instructions stored in a memory120, and packet subsystem 104 includes at least one processor 124operable to execute instructions stored in a memory 126. In a particularembodiment, processor 118 may be operable to execute a CTI serversoftware program to support CTI interface 116, and processor 124 may beoperable to execute a corresponding CTI client software package tosupport CTI interface 116. The CTI software may, for example, implementthe European Computer Manufacturers Association (ECMA) standardsECMA-179 and ECMA-180 for Computer Supported TelecommunicationsApplications (CSTA). In a particular embodiment, processors 118 and 124execute the CT CONNECT software package. Processors 118 and 124 may usethe CTI interface, for example, to activate and deactivate callforwarding feature 112 or otherwise control telephone subsystem 106.

Mobile station 108 communicates with wireless subsystem 102 over awireless interface. Mobile station 108 may comprise any suitablewireless device operable to communicate with and room within wirelesssubsystem 102. Mobile station 108 may, for example, comprise a mobiletelephone or a computer coupled to a wireless modem or radio unit. Inone embodiment, mobile station 108 may register with wireless subsystem102 using the method described in U.S. application Ser. No. 09/782,100entitled “Method and System for Selecting a Preferred Cell in a WirelessCommunication System.” Mobile station 108 may also comprise a dual modemobile station operable to communicate with wireless subsystem 102 usinga first protocol and with a public network using a second protocol. In aparticular embodiment, mobile station 108 comprises a dual modeGSM/IS-136 mobile handset. Other embodiments of mobile station 108 maybe used without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Telephone 110 is coupled to telephone subsystem 106. Telephone 110 maycomprise any suitable wireline or wireless telephonic device operable tocommunicate with telephone subsystem 106. In this document, the phrase“telephonic device” refers to any hardware, software, firmware, orcombination thereof operable to provide voice phone services. Telephone110 may, for example, comprise a fixed telephone, a wireless mobilestation, a voice over packet telephone, or a computer executing atelephonic application.

In one aspect of operation, mobile station 108 may be associated withone or more telephones 110. In one embodiment, mobile station 108 isassociated with one telephone 110. Mobile station 108 may register withsystem 100, such as when mobile station 108 is turned on or roams intowireless subsystem 102. When mobile station 108 registers with system100, packet subsystem 104 signals telephone subsystem 106 to forwardcalls for the associated telephone 110 to mobile station 108. Whilemobile station 108 is registered in system 100, each call for thesubscriber is directed to mobile station 108. For example, if a call ismade to the subscriber's telephone 110, the call is forwarded to thesubscriber's mobile station 108 through the packet subsystem 104 and thewireless subsystem 102. If another mobile station 108 calls thesubscriber's mobile station 108 or the subscriber's telephone 110, thecall is routed through wireless subsystem 102 without being routedthrough telephone subsystem 106.

Mobile station 108 may also deregister with system 100, such as whenmobile station 108 is turned off or roams out of wireless subsystem 102.When mobile station 108 deregisters with system 100, packet subsystem104 signals telephone subsystem 106 to stop forwarding calls for theassociated telephone 110 to mobile station 108. In a particularembodiment, packet subsystem 104 also forwards calls for thederegistered mobile station 108 to the telephone 110 associated withmobile station 108. In this embodiment, while mobile station 108 isderegistered with system 100, each call for the subscriber is directedto telephone 110. If a call is made to the subscriber's mobile station108, the call is routed to telephone 110 through packet subsystem 104and telephone subsystem 106.

System 100 may use any suitable method to forward calls for a telephone110 to a mobile station 108. In one embodiment, as mobile station 108registers and deregisters with system 100, processor 124 may instructprocessor 118 over CTI interface 116 or interface 114 to activate ordeactivate the call forwarding feature 112. When mobile station 108 isregistered, processor 118 may forward calls for telephone 110 to packetsubsystem 104, which communicates the calls to mobile station 108through wireless subsystem 102.

In another embodiment, processor 124 may use a remote call forwardingfeature 128 in telephone subsystem 106 to forward calls for telephone110 to mobile station 108. Remote call forwarding feature 128 may, forexample, allow one telephone 110 to activate or deactivate the callforwarding feature 112 for another telephone 110. Using remote callforwarding feature 128, processor 124 may instruct processor 118 toforward calls for telephone 110 to packet subsystem 104, whichcommunicates the call to mobile station 108.

In yet another embodiment, processor 124 may instruct processor 118 tomonitor a telephone 110 using a monitoring feature (MF) 130. Whenprocessor 118 detects an incoming call for a telephone 110 usingmonitoring feature 130, processor 118 informs processor 124 of the call.If the mobile station 108 associated with the telephone 110 isregistered in system 100, processor 124 instructs processor 118 todeflect the call to packet subsystem 104 through interface 114 using adeflection feature (DF) 132. Packet subsystem 104 receives the call overinterface 114 and communicates the call to mobile station 108.

Although FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of system 100, variouschanges may be made to system 100 without departing from the scope ofthe present invention. For example, packet subsystem 104 may communicatewith telephone subsystem 106 over interface 114, without the use of aCTI interface 116. Also, any suitable number and/or types of telephones110 may be used with telephone subsystem 106, and any suitable number ofmobile stations 108 may communicate with wireless subsystem 102.Further, although FIG. 1 illustrates wireless subsystem 102, packetsubsystem 104, and telephone subsystem 106 as distinct entities, one ormore of the subsystems may be combined without departing from the scopeof the present invention. For example, packet subsystem 104 may becontained within wireless subsystem 102. In addition, functionsdescribed as residing within one element of system 100 may beimplemented in other elements of system 100. Beyond that, the inventionmay be implemented in system 100 using any logic stored in at least onecomputer processable medium. The logic may be encoded in hardware,software instructions, and/or firmware instructions stored in anysuitable device such as, for example, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an application-specific integrated circuit(ASIC), or a field programmable gate array (FPGA). Other changes may bemade without departing from the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating another exemplary system 200 forcall forwarding. In the illustrated embodiment, system 200 includes oneor more base stations (BTS) 250, one or more Wireless Adjunct InternetPlatforms (WARP) 252, a packet network 254, an integrated communicationsserver 256, a gateway 258, and a PBX 260. Other embodiments of system200 may be used without departing from the scope of the presentinvention.

Base station 250 is coupled to WARP 252. Base station 250 providesbidirectional communication with mobile stations 208 in a specifiedgeographic area over a wireless interface 262. Base station 250 alsotransfers information between mobile station 208 and WARP 252. Basestation 250 may comprise any hardware, software, firmware, orcombination thereof operable to communicate with mobile stations 208over a wireless interface. Base station 250 may, for example, compriseone or more transceivers operable to exchange circuit-switched and/orpacket-switched information with mobile station 208.

Wireless interface 262 facilitates communication between mobile station208 and base station 250. Wireless interface 262 may comprise anywireless interface operable to transfer circuit-switched and/orpacket-switched information between mobile station 208 and base station250. Interface 262 may, for example, comprise a GSM General Packet RadioService (GSM/GPRS) interface or a GSM Enhanced Data rates for GSMEvolution (GSM/EDGE) interface.

WARP 252 is coupled to base station 250 by an interface 264 and topacket network 254. WARP 252 facilitates communication between mobilestations 208 and PBX 260 by transporting voice and/or data informationbetween base station 250 and packet network 254. In one embodiment, WARP252 communicates with mobile station 208 through base station 250 usinga circuit-switched protocol, and WARP 252 communicates with packetnetwork 254 using a packet-switched protocol. In this embodiment, WARP252 also performs an interworking function to translate between thecircuit-switched and packet-switched protocols. For example, WARP 252may convert between the GSM 04.08 and 08.60 protocols used by mobilestation 208 and the ITU-T H.323 protocols used by integratedcommunications server 256 and gateway 258. In addition, WARP 252packetizes information from mobile station 208 into datagrams fortransmission over packet network 254, and WARP 252 depacketizesinformation contained in datagrams received over packet network 254.WARP 252 may comprise any hardware, software, firmware, or combinationthereof operable to facilitate communication between base station 250and packet network 254.

Interface 264 is coupled to base station 250 and WARP 252. Interface 264may comprise any suitable interface operable to transfercircuit-switched and/or packet-switched information between base station250 and WARP 252. Interface 264 may, for example, comprise a GSM Abiswireline interface.

Packet network 254 is coupled to WARP 252, integrated communicationsserver 256, and gateway 258. Packet network 254 transports datagramsfrom one network address in packet network 254 to another networkaddress. In addition, packet network 254 may be coupled to andcommunicate with external data or voice networks, such as the Internetor a public land mobile network. Packet network 254 may comprise anysuitable packet-switched network. Packet network 254 may, for example,comprise a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), aMetropolitan Area Network (MAN), a portion of a global computer networksuch as the Internet, or any other communications system or systems atone or more locations.

In the illustrated embodiment, integrated communications server 256includes a gatekeeper 266, a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) server268, a subscriber location register (SLR) 270, and a teleworking server272. Although FIG. 2 illustrates integrated communications server 256 ascomprising all four of these components, any or all of these componentsmay be implemented on a separate platform or platforms without departingfrom the scope of the present invention.

Gatekeeper 266 provides call control services for mobile stations 208,WARPs 252, and gateway 258. For example, gatekeeper 266 tracks thelocation of mobile stations 208, and gatekeeper 266 routes calls for amobile station 208 to and from the WARP 252 currently serving thatmobile station 208. This allows subscribers using mobile stations 208 toroam between geographic areas covered by different base stations 250.Gatekeeper 266 also performs address translation to convert the phonenumber associated with mobile station 208 to a network address of WARP252 serving that mobile station 208. In addition, gatekeeper 266performs call forwarding functions in system 200. Gatekeeper 266 may,for example, instruct PBX 260 to forward calls for a telephone 210 to amobile station 208. Gatekeeper 266 may communicate signaling informationto PBX 260 over CTI interface 216 or through gateway 258. Gatekeeper 266may comprise any hardware, software, firmware, or combination thereofoperable to provide call control services in system 200.

WAP server 268 stores subscriber information used to allow mobilestations 208 to execute data-based applications and receive data-basedservices. WAP server 268 may, for example, allow mobile stations 208 tosend and receive e-mail, access an enterprise's intranet such as packetnetwork 254, or access the Internet. WAP server 268 may comprise anysuitable hardware, software, firmware, or combination thereof operableto provide WAP functionality to mobile stations 208.

Subscriber location register 270 stores subscriber managementinformation for mobile stations 208. For example, subscriber locationregister 270 may store general subscriber management informationdownloaded from a public network when mobile station 208 roams intosystem 200. Subscriber location register 270 also stores eachsubscriber's extension number, direct dial number, and any otherinformation that is specific to system 200. Subscriber location register270 may comprise any hardware, software, firmware, or combinationthereof operable to store subscriber management information. Subscriberlocation register 270 may, for example, comprise a SUN workstation witha database.

Teleworking server 272 supports teleworking services in system 200.Teleworking server 272 may, for example, allow a user of system 200 toaccess information and/or communication capabilities of system 200 fromremote locations. The user of telephone 210 may access teleworkingserver 272 and inform teleworking server 272 of the user's currentlocation. Teleworking server 272 may allow the user to use a remotetelephone and to receive the same features as if the user was usingtelephone 210, even if the remote telephone is outside of system 200.Teleworking server 272 may comprise any hardware, software, firmware, orcombination thereof operable to provide teleworking services in system200.

Gateway 258 is coupled to packet network 254 and PBX 260. Gateway 258may also be coupled to a public network, such as a public switchedtelephone network. Gateway 258 transfers information between packetnetwork 254 and PBX 260. In one embodiment, gateway 258 communicateswith packet network 254 using a packet-switched protocol and with PBX260 using a circuit-switched protocol. In this embodiment, gateway 258also performs an interworking function to translate between thepacket-switched and circuit-switched protocols. In a particularembodiment, gateway 258 converts between the ITU-T H.323 protocols usedby WARP 252 and integrated communications server 256 and thecircuit-switched protocols used by PBX 260. In addition, gateway 258packetizes information into datagrams for transmission over packetnetwork 254, and gateway 258 depacketizes information contained indatagrams received over packet network 254. Gateway 258 may communicatebearer and signaling information to PBX 260 over interface 214. Gateway258 may comprise any hardware, software, firmware, or combinationthereof operable to facilitate communication between packet network 254and PBX 260.

PBX 260 is coupled to gateway 258 and to one or more telephones 210. PBX260 may also be coupled to one or more public networks, such as a publicland mobile network and a public switched telephone network. PBX 260transfers information between telephones 210 and/or between gateway 258and telephones 210. PBX 260 may comprise any suitable circuit-switchedand/or packet-switched network operable to facilitate communicationbetween telephone 210 and gateway 258.

In one aspect of operation, mobile station 208 may register with WARP252, and WARP 252 informs gatekeeper 266 that mobile station 208 hasregistered in system 200. Registration may occur, for example, when asubscriber turns on mobile station 208 or roams into a geographic areamonitored by base station 250. After registration, system 200 forwardscalls for a telephone 210 associated with mobile station 208 to thatmobile station 208. System 200 may also stop forwarding calls to mobilestation 208 when mobile station 208 deregisters with system 200.Deregistration may occur, for example, when a subscriber turns offmobile station 208 or roams out of the geographic area monitored by basestations 250 in system 200. After deregistration, system 200 may routecalls for the deregistered mobile station 208 to the telephone 210associated with mobile station 208.

System 200 may use any suitable method for forwarding calls directed ata telephone 210 to a mobile station 208. In one embodiment, PBX 260includes a call forwarding feature 212, such as a Call ForwardUnconditional feature. This feature 212 may, for example, be supportedby CTI software stored in memory 220 and executed by processor 218 inPBX 260. In a particular embodiment, WARP 252 and/or gatekeeper 266instructs PBX 260 to invoke feature 212 and forward calls for telephone210 to gateway 258. For example, processor 224 in gatekeeper 266 mayexecute CTI software stored in memory 226, and processor 224 mayinstruct processor 218 in PBX 260 to activate or deactivate callforwarding feature 212. Gateway 258 receives and forwards the calls tomobile station 208 over packet network 254, WARP 252, and base station250. WARP 252 or gatekeeper 266 may instruct PBX 260 to invoke callforwarding feature 212 and forward calls to gateway 258 using the CTIinterface 216 or through an administration port (ADMIN) 278.

In another embodiment, WARP 252 and/or gatekeeper 266 may include atelephone emulator card 274. Card 274 appears to PBX 260 as a telephone210. In this embodiment, PBX 260 may support a Remote Call Forwardingfeature (RCF) 228, which allows call forwarding feature 212 to beactivated and deactivated from another telephone 210. Using thetelephone emulator card 274, WARP 252 or gatekeeper 266 instructs PBX260 to activate or deactivate call forwarding feature 212 using theremote call forwarding feature 228.

In yet another embodiment, PBX 260 may support a call monitoring feature230 and a call deflection feature 232. These features may, for example,be supported by CTI software stored in memory 220 and executed byprocessor 218. Processor 218 in PBX 260 may monitor a telephone 210using monitoring feature 230 and wait for an alert event, whichindicates that an incoming call for telephone 210 exists. When processor218 detects an alert event for a monitored telephone 210, processor 224determines if the mobile station 208 associated with telephone 210 isregistered in system 200. If the mobile station 208 is registered,processor 224 instructs processor 218 in PBX 260 to deflect the incomingcall to gateway 258 over interface 214 using deflection feature 232.

In still another embodiment, when mobile station 208 registers in system200, WARP 252 or gatekeeper 266 may instruct teleworking server 272 totreat mobile station 208 as a remote location for telephone 210.Teleworking server 272 then instructs PBX 260 to forward calls fortelephone 210 to mobile station 208 using remote call forwarding feature228.

Although FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of system 200, variouschanges may be made to system 200 without departing from the scope ofthe present invention. For example, any number of base stations 250 maybe coupled to each WARP 252, and any number of WARPs 252 may be coupledto packet network 254. Also, although FIG. 2 illustrates a PBX 260coupled to gateway 258, other telephone systems may be coupled togateway 258, such as a Key System, a central office switch, a wirelesstelephone switch, a packet-based soft switch, or any other suitablecircuit-switched and/or packet-switched system. Further, althoughgatekeeper 266 and gateway 258 are illustrated as separate entities,both may be implemented in an integrated platform. In addition,functions described as residing within one element of system 200 may beimplemented in other elements of system 200. Beyond that, the inventionmay be implemented in system 200 using any logic stored in at least onecomputer processable medium. Other changes may be made to system 200without departing from the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method 300 for callforwarding in a communication system. System 100 directs calls to atelephone 110 in a telephone subsystem 106 at step 302. This mayinclude, for example, telephone subsystem 106 receiving a call from apublic network, another telephone 110 in telephone subsystem 106, or amobile station 108. System 100 detects a mobile station 108 associatedwith a telephone 110 at step 304. This may include, for example, mobilestation 108 registering with wireless subsystem 102 and/or packetsubsystem 104, such as by communicating a registration signal towireless subsystem 102. System 100 forwards calls for the telephone 110in the telephone subsystem 106 to the mobile station 108 at step 306.This may include, for example, wireless subsystem 102 and/or packetsubsystem 104 instructing telephone subsystem 106 to forward calls fortelephone 110 to mobile station 108. System 100 loses contact withmobile station 108 at step 308. This may include, for example, mobilestation 108 deregistering from system 100, such as when a subscriberturns off mobile station 108 or roams outside the geographic areacovered by wireless subsystem 102. System 100 stops forwarding calls fortelephone 110 to mobile station 108 at step 310. This may include, forexample, wireless subsystem 102 and/or packet subsystem 104 clearing thecall forwarding feature in telephone subsystem 106.

Although FIG. 3 has been described with respect to system 100, method300 may be used with any suitable communication system. Method 300 maybe used, for example, in a system having a packet subsystem 104 and atelephone subsystem 106, without a wireless subsystem 102. In thisembodiment, method 300 may forward calls directed at telephone 110 to apacket-based client coupled to packet subsystem 104.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method 400 forforwarding calls for a telephone to a mobile station. A mobile station208 registers with system 200 at step 402. This may include, forexample, a subscriber turning on mobile station 208 or roaming into thegeographic area covered by system 200. This may also include mobilestation 208 communicating a registration signal to base station 250,which communicates the signal to WARP 252. WARP 252 may then informgatekeeper 266 of the registration. System 200 instructs PBX 260 toforward telephone calls for a telephone 210 associated with mobilestation 208 to mobile station 208 at step 404. This may include, forexample, gatekeeper 266 or WARP 252 invoking one or more features 212,228, 230, 232 of PBX 260 using at least one of CTI interface 216, trunkor line interface 214, administration port 278, teleworking server 272,and telephone emulator card 274. PBX 260 forwards calls for telephone210 to mobile station 208 at step 406. This may include, for example,PBX 260 receiving a telephone call for a telephone 210 and forwardingthe call to gateway 258.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating another exemplary method 500 forforwarding calls for a telephone 210 to a mobile station 208. A mobilestation 208 registers with system 200 at step 502. This may include, forexample, a subscriber turning on mobile station 208 or roaming intorange of a base station 250 in system 200. This may also include mobilestation 208 communicating a registration message to base station 250,base station 250 forwarding the information to WARP 252, and WARP 252informing gatekeeper 266 of the registration. System 200 instructs PBX260 to monitor a telephone 210 at step 504. This may include, forexample, a processor 224 in WARP 252 or gatekeeper 266 instructing aprocessor 218 in PBX 260 to monitor a particular telephone 210 usingmonitoring feature 230. PBX 260 listens for an alert event at step 506.An alert event is generated when an incoming call for a telephone 210has been received by PBX 260. PBX 260 detects an alert at step 508. Thisindicates that someone has placed an incoming call to telephone 210, andan alert signal has been communicated to telephone 210 to causetelephone 210 to ring. PBX 260 deflects the incoming call from themonitored telephone 210 to mobile station 208 at step 510. This mayinclude, for example, processor 218 in PBX 260 redirecting the incomingcall using deflection feature 232 to gateway 258, which forwards theincoming call to mobile station 208.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating yet another exemplary method 600for forwarding calls for a telephone 210 to a mobile station 208. Mobilestation 208 registers with system 200 at step 602. This may include, forexample, a subscriber turning on mobile station 208 or roaming intosystem 200. Teleworking server 272 is instructed to treat mobile station208 as a remote location for a telephone 210 at step 604. This mayinclude, for example, mobile station 208, WARP 252, and/or gatekeeper266 communicating the instructions to teleworking server 272.Teleworking server 272 instructs PBX 260 to forward calls for telephone210 to mobile station 208 at step 606. This may include, for example,teleworking server 272 instructing PBX 260 to forward the calls togateway 258 using remote call forwarding feature 228 and call forwardingfeature 212. PBX 260 forwards calls for telephone 210 to mobile station208 at step 608. This may include, for example, PBX 260 forwarding thecalls for telephone 210 to gateway 258, which forwards the calls tomobile station 208.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method 700 forsynchronizing call forwarding in a communication system. A mobilestation 208 registers with system 200 at step 702. This may include, forexample, mobile station 208 being turned on or roaming into system 200.System 200 synchronizes the call forwarding destinations in thedifferent components of system 200 at step 704. If neither mobilestation 208 nor telephone 210 is forwarded to a specific destination,this may include system 200 forwarding telephone 210 to mobile station208. If one of mobile station 208 or telephone 210 is forwarded to aspecific destination, this may include ensuring that both mobile station208 and telephone 210 are forwarded to the same destination. If mobilestation 208 and telephone 210 are forwarded to different destinations,this may include forwarding one of the devices 208, 210 to thedestination of the other 210, 208.

A change to the call forwarding feature in either telephone 210 ormobile station 208 is made at step 706. This may include, for example, asubscriber forwarding mobile station 208 or telephone 210 to a newdestination. System 200 maintains call forwarding synchronization atstep 708. This may include, for example, ensuring either that mobilestation 208 and telephone 210 are forwarded to the same destination,telephone 210 is forwarded to mobile station 208, or mobile station 208is forwarded to telephone 210. Mobile station 208 deregisters withsystem 200 at step 710. This may include, for example, a subscriberturning off mobile station 208 or roaming outside of system 200. System200 restores the call forwarding in system 200 at step 712. This mayinclude, for example, system 200 determining if telephone 210 isforwarded to mobile station 208 or to another destination. If telephone210 is forwarded to mobile station 208, system 200 turns the callforwarding feature off for telephone 210. Otherwise, system 200 does notchange the call forwarding destination for telephone 210.

Although FIG. 7 has been described with respect to system 200, method700 may be used with any suitable communication system. Method 700 maybe used, for example, in a system having a packet subsystem 104 and atelephone subsystem 106, without a wireless subsystem 102. In thisembodiment, method 700 may synchronize call forwarding for a telephone110 and a packet-based client coupled to packet subsystem 104. Method700 could also be used in a system having a wireless subsystem 102 and atelephone subsystem 106, without a packet subsystem 104.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method 800 forestablishing a call forwarding destination for a mobile station 208.Telephone 210 is forwarded to a specific destination, called “locationX,” at step 802. This may include, for example, a user of telephone 210manually forwarding telephone 210 to the specific destination. Mobilestation 208 registers with system 200 at step 804. System 200 forwardscalls for mobile station 208 to the specific destination at step 806.This may include, for example, gatekeeper 266 and/or WARP 252 receivingthe specific destination from PBX 260. This may also include WARP 252and/or gatekeeper 266 routing datagrams destined for mobile station 208to the forwarded location. This helps to synchronize call forwarding insystem 200 by ensuring that calls for the subscriber are routed to thesame location, whether the incoming calls are directed at mobile station208 or telephone 210.

The subscriber turns off the call forwarding feature for mobile station208 at step 808. This may include the subscriber manually entering acode on mobile station 208 to deactivate the call forwarding. This mayalso include WARP 252 and/or gatekeeper 266 receiving the instruction todeactivate call forwarding for the mobile station 208. System 200 setsthe call forwarding for the telephone 210 to the mobile station 208 atstep 810. This may include, for example, WARP 252 and/or gatekeeper 266instructing PBX 260 to forward calls for telephone 210 to mobile station208. This also helps to synchronize call forwarding in system 200 byensuring that calls for the subscriber are routed to the mobile station208.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method 900 forestablishing a call forwarding destination for a telephone 210associated with a mobile station 208. Method 900 begins at step 902,where the call forwarding feature of a mobile station 208 is turned off,or not set to a specified location. Mobile station 208 registers withsystem 200 at step 904, and system 200 forwards calls for the associatedtelephone 210 to the mobile station 208 at step 906. This helps toensure call forward synchronization in system 200 by directing calls forthe subscriber to the subscriber's mobile station 208.

The subscriber activates the call forwarding feature and forwards callsfor mobile station 208 to a specific destination, labeled “location Y,”at step 908. This may include, for example, the subscriber manuallyentering a code on mobile station 208 to forward mobile station 208 tothe specific destination. This may also include WARP 252 and/orgatekeeper 266 receiving the new destination for mobile station 208.System 200 forwards calls for the associated telephone 210 to the samedestination at step 910. This may include, for example, WARP 252 and/orgatekeeper 266 instructing PBX 260 to forward calls for telephone 210 tothe new destination. This helps to synchronize call forwarding in system200 by ensuring that calls for the subscriber are forwarded to the samedestination, whether the calls are directed at the subscriber's mobilestation 208 or telephone 210.

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating another exemplary method 1000 forestablishing a call forwarding destination for a telephone 210associated with a mobile station 208. Mobile station 208 registers withsystem 200 at step 1002. A subscriber forwards calls for a telephone 210associated with mobile station 208 to a specific destination, called“location Z,” at step 1004. System 200 also activates the callforwarding feature for mobile station 208 and forwards calls for mobilestation 208 to the same specific destination at step 1006. Calls for thesubscriber are forwarded to the destination at step 1008, whether thecalls are directed at the mobile station 208 or the telephone 210.

Call forwarding is deactivated for the telephone 210 at step 1010, suchas by manually deactivating the call forwarding feature. System 200starts a timer at step 1012. Gatekeeper 266 and/or WARP 252 may set thetimer to any suitable duration, such as fifteen seconds. System 200determines if another call forwarding destination for telephone 210 isentered at step 1014. This may include, for example, WARP 252 and/orgatekeeper 266 determining if another destination has been entered. Ifanother destination is entered before the timer elapses, system 200 setsthe call forwarding destination for the telephone 210 to the newdestination at step 1016. To maintain synchronization, system 200 alsoforwards mobile station 208 to the new destination at step 1018.

If system 200 does not detect a new destination at step 1014, system 200checks whether the timer has elapsed at step 1020. If the timer has notelapsed, system 200 returns to step 1014 to await a new call forwardingdestination. When the timer elapses, system 200 sets the call forwardingdestination for telephone 210 to mobile station 208. System 200maintains call forwarding synchronization by ensuring that calls for thesubscriber are routed to the mobile station 208.

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method 1100 forestablishing a call forwarding destination for a telephone 210associated with a deregistered mobile station 208. A mobile station 208deregisters with system 200 at step 1102. This may include, for example,a subscriber turning off mobile station 208 or roaming outside of system200. System 200 determines if telephone 210 is forwarded at step 1104.This may include, for example, WARP 252 and/or gatekeeper 266determining if the call forwarding feature 212 for telephone 210 hasbeen activated. If telephone 210 is not forwarded, method 1100 ends.Call forwarding in system 200 is synchronized because telephone 210 isnot forwarded to a deregistered mobile station 208.

If call forwarding for telephone 210 is active, system 200 determines iftelephone 210 is forwarded to the mobile station 208 at step 1106. Thismay include, for example, WARP 252 and/or gatekeeper 266 determining iftelephone 210 has been forwarded to gateway 258. If not, method 1100ends. Call forwarding in system 200 is synchronized because telephone210 is not forwarded to a deregistered mobile station 208. If telephone210 is forwarded to the mobile station 208 at step 1106, system 200deactivates the call forwarding for telephone 210 at step 1108. Becausetelephone 210 is forwarded to a deregistered mobile station 208, system200 deactivates call forwarding for telephone 210 to maintainsynchronization in system 200.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating yet another exemplary system1200 for call forwarding. In the illustrated embodiment, system 1200includes a base station 1250, a central office 1280, a cable box 1282,and a converter box 1284. Other embodiments of system 1200 may be usedwithout departing from the scope of the present invention.

Central office 1280 is coupled to telephones 1210 and cable box 1282.Central office 1280 facilitates communication in system 1200, such asbetween two telephones 1210 or between a telephone 1210 and cable box1282. Central office 1280 may comprise any suitable circuit-switchedand/or packet-switched system, such as one or more Class 5 switches.

Cable box 1282 is coupled to central office 1280 and converter box 1284.Cable box 1282 facilitates communication between central office 1280 andconverter box 1284. In one embodiment, cable box 1282 communicates withcentral office 1280 using a first protocol and with converter box 1284using a second protocol. For example, cable box 1282 may communicatewith converter box 1284 using a packet over cable protocol, and cablebox 1282 may communicate with central office 1280 using a BellcoreGR-303 interface, a V5.2 interface, or a V5.3 interface. In thisembodiment, cable box 1282 may convert and packetize information fromcentral office 1280 for communication to converter box 1284. Cable box1282 may also convert and depacketize information from converter box1284 for communication to central office 1280. Cable box 1282 maycomprise any hardware, software, firmware, or combination thereofoperable to facilitate communication of voice information betweencentral office 1280 and converter box 1284.

Converter box 1284 is coupled to cable box 1282, one or more devices1286, and base station 1250. Converter box 1284 is operable to receiveinformation from cable box 1282 and to communicate the information toone or more devices 1286 or base station 1250. In one embodiment,converter box 1284 may receive audio and video information, voiceinformation, and/or data from cable box 1282. Converter box 1284 maycommunicate the audio and video information to a television 1286 a, thevoice information to a telephone 1286 b or base station 1250, and thedata to a computing device 1286c. Converter box 1284 may also receiveinformation from devices 1286 and/or base station 1250, such as voiceinformation from device 1286 b and/or base station 1250. Converter box1284 is operable to communicate the information to central office 1280through cable box 1282.

In one aspect of operation, when mobile station 1208 comes within rangeof base station 1250, a signal may be sent through converter box 1284and cable box 1282 to central office 1280. A call forwarding feature1212 or other feature in central office 1280 may cause calls directed ata telephone 1210 to be forwarded to mobile station 1208. Also, becausecalls for telephone 1286 b may be routed through central office 1280,call forwarding feature 1212 or another feature of central office 1280may be used to forward calls for telephone 1286 b to mobile station1208. When mobile station 1208 roams outside of the range of basestation 1250, a signal may be sent to central office 1280 instructingcentral office 1280 to stop forwarding calls to mobile station 1208.

In a particular embodiment, devices 1286 may be located in a residence1292, such as a house or apartment. As an example, television 1286a mayreceive cable television services, phone 1286 b may receive voice overcable services, and computing device 1286 c may receive cable modemservices through converter box 1284. To provide wireless services inresidence 1292, a base station 1250, such as an antenna with a range of300 feet, may be installed in residence 1292. When mobile station 1208roams within the range of base station 1250, central office 1280 may beinstructed to forward calls for a telephone 1210 to mobile station 1208.Telephone 1210 could, for example, represent a desk phone at the officeof the subscriber using mobile station 1208, and calls directed to thesubscriber's office would be forwarded to mobile station 1208. Also,because calls for telephone 1286 b may be routed through central office1280, central office 1280 may forward calls for telephone 1286 b tomobile station 1208. This may allow, for example, all calls for thesubscriber to be forwarded to mobile station 1208, whether the calls aredirected at telephone 1210, telephone 1286 b in residence 1292, ormobile station 1208.

Although FIG. 12 illustrates one embodiment of system 1200, variouschanges may be made to system 1200 without departing from the scope ofthe present invention. For example, system 1200 may include some or noneof devices 1286. Also, in another embodiment, converter box 1284 may notpossess the ability to directly communicate information to and receiveinformation from base station 1250, and a WARP may be coupled betweenbase station 1250 and converter box 1284 to facilitate communication.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating still another exemplary system1300 for call forwarding. In the illustrated embodiment, system 1300includes a voice over packet subsystem 1304 and a telephone subsystem1306. Other embodiments of system 1300 may be used without departingfrom the scope of the present invention.

In the illustrated embodiment, telephone subsystem 1306 may be the sameor similar to telephone subsystem 106 of FIG. 1 and/or PBX 260 of FIG.2. For example, telephone subsystem 1306 may include a call forwardingfeature 1312, a remote call forwarding feature 1328, a call monitoringfeature 1330, a call deflection feature 1332, a processor 1318, and amemory 1320. Telephone subsystem 1306 may also communicate with one ormore telephones 1310.

In the illustrated embodiment, packet subsystem 1304 includes a voiceover packet client 1350, a gateway 1358, and a gatekeeper 1366. Client1350 is coupled to gatekeeper 1366 and gateway 1358. Client 1350facilitates the communication of packet voice information to telephonesubsystem 1306. Client 1350 may, for example, receive voice information,packetize the information, and communicate the packets to gateway 1358.Client 1350 may also receive packets of voice information from gateway1358 and extract the information. In one embodiment, client 1350 mayoperate in an active state or a non-active state. The active stateindicates that calls directed at a telephone 1310 associated with client1350 should be forwarded to client 1350. The non-active state indicatesthat calls directed at client 1350 should be forwarded to the telephone1310 associated with client 1350. Client 1350 may comprise any hardware,software, firmware, or combination thereof operable to provide packetvoice services in system 1300. Client 1350 may, for example, comprise avoice over packet telephone, a computing device, or a gateway operableto communicate with another communications system. In a particularembodiment, client 1350 comprises a Wireless Adjunct Internet Platformoperable to facilitate communication between packet subsystem 1304 and awireless system.

Gateway 1358 and gatekeeper 1366 may be the same or similar to gateway258 and gatekeeper 266, respectively, of FIG. 2. In the illustratedembodiment, gatekeeper 1366 is coupled to client 1350, gateway 1358, andtelephone subsystem 1306. Gatekeeper 1366 is operable to communicatesignaling information to client 1350, gateway 1358, and telephonesubsystem 1306. Gatekeeper 1366 may communicate the signalinginformation to telephone subsystem 1306 over CTI interface 1316 orthrough gateway 1358. Gatekeeper 1366 is also operable to instructtelephone subsystem 1306 to forward a call for a telephone 1310 to aclient 1350 when client 1350 is in the active state. Gatekeeper 1366 isfurther operable to instruct gateway 1358 to forward a call for a client1350 to a telephone 1310 when client 1350 is in the non-active state.Gatekeeper 1366 may comprise any hardware, software, firmware, orcombination thereof operable to instruct telephone subsystem 1306 and/orgateway 1358 to forward calls in system 1300.

Gateway 1358 is coupled to client 1350, gatekeeper 1366, and telephonesubsystem 1306. Gateway 1358 facilitates communication between client1350 and telephone subsystem 1306. Gateway 1358 may, for example,receive packets containing voice information from client 1350, extractthe voice information, and communicate the information to telephonesubsystem 1306. Gateway 1358 may also receive voice information fromtelephone system 1306, packetize the information, and communicate thepackets to client 1350. In addition, gateway 1358 may facilitate thecommunication of signaling information between gatekeeper 1366 andtelephone subsystem 1306 over interface 1314. Gateway 1358 may compriseany hardware, software, firmware, or combination thereof operable tofacilitate communication between client 1350 and telephone subsystem1306.

In one aspect of operation, when client 1350 is activated, client 1350registers with gatekeeper 1366. Gatekeeper 1366 instructs telephonesubsystem 1306 to forward calls directed at the telephone 1310associated with client 1350 to gateway 1358. Gatekeeper 1366 may alsoinstruct gateway 1358 not to forward calls for client 1350 to telephonesubsystem 1306. When telephone subsystem 1306 receives a call directedat client 1350 or the associated telephone 1310, telephone subsystem1306 forwards the call to gateway 1358, which communicates the call toclient 1350. If a second client 1350 attempts to call the first client1350, the call may be routed through packet subsystem 1304 without beingrouted through telephone subsystem 1306.

When client 1350 is deactivated, or enters the non-active state, client1350 deregisters with gatekeeper 1366. Gatekeeper 1366 instructstelephone subsystem 1306 to stop forwarding calls to client 1350, andgatekeeper 1366 instructs gateway 1358 to forward calls for client 1350to the associated telephone 1310. If packet subsystem 1304 receives acall for the deactivated client 1350, such as from another client 1350,gatekeeper 1366 routes the call through telephone subsystem 1306 to thetelephone 1310 associated with the deactivated client 1350.

In a particular embodiment, client 1350 comprises a gateway to awireless network, such as a Wireless Adjunct Internet Platform. In thisembodiment, client 1350 may operate in an active state when a mobilestation is registered with the wireless network. Similarly, client 1350may operate in a non-active state when no mobile stations are registeredwith the wireless network.

Gatekeeper 1366 may use any suitable method for instructing telephonesubsystem 1306 to forward calls for a telephone 1310 to gateway 1358.Gatekeeper 1366 may, for example, use method 1400 illustrated in FIG.14, or the methods illustrated in FIGS. 3-6 where client 1350 takes theplace of the mobile station in methods 300-600. Also, system 1300 mayuse any suitable method for maintaining call forwarding synchronization.This may include, for example, system 1300 using the methods illustratedin FIGS. 7-11, with client 1350 taking the place of the mobile stationin methods 700-1100.

Although FIG. 13 illustrates one embodiment of system 1300, variouschanges may be made without departing from the scope of the presentinvention. For example, any number and/or types of clients 1350 may becoupled to a gatekeeper 1366 and a gateway 1358. Also, any number ofgatekeepers 1366 and/or gateways 1358 may be coupled to telephonesubsystem 1306. Other changes may be made to system 1300 withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a flow diagram illustrating another exemplary method 1400 forcall forwarding in a communications system. System 1300 determines thestate of a client 1350 at step 1402. This may include, for example,gatekeeper 1366 determining if the client 1350 is registered withgatekeeper 1366. Registered clients 1350 may be in an active state,while unregistered clients 1350 are in the non-active state. System 1300determines if client 1350 is in an active state at step 1404. If client1350 is in an active state, system 1300 instructs telephone subsystem1306 to forward calls directed at a telephone 1310 to the associatedclient 1350 at step 1406. This may include, for example, gatekeeper 1366instructing telephone subsystem 1306 to forward calls for telephone 1310using call forwarding feature 1312, remote call forwarding feature 1328,call monitoring feature 1330, and/or call deflection feature 1332. Atthis point, system 1300 may route calls for a user of client 1350 toclient 1350, whether the calls are directed at client 1350 or telephone1310.

If client 1350 is in the non-active state at step 1404, system 1300instructs gateway 1358 to forward calls for client 1350 to telephone1310 at step 1408. This may include, for example, gatekeeper 1366instructing gateway 1358 to forward calls for client 1350 to telephonesubsystem 1306. At this point, system 1300 routes calls for the user ofclient 1350 to the associated telephone 1310, whether the calls aredirected at client 1350 or telephone 1310.

Although the present invention has been described with severalembodiments, a number of changes, substitutions, variations,alterations, and modifications may be suggested to one skilled in theart, and it is intended that the invention encompass all such changes,substitutions, variations, alterations, and modifications that fallwithin the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

1. A method for call forwarding synchronization, comprising: allowing atelephone subsystem to forward calls for a telephonic device to a firstcall forwarding destination; and allowing a wireless subsystem toforward calls for a mobile station to a second call forwardingdestination, the mobile station associated with the telephonic device;determining a registration state of the mobile station; andsynchronizing the call forwarding destinations for the mobile stationand the telephonic device in response to a change to at least one of theregistration state, the first call forwarding destination, and thesecond call forwarding destination, the call forwarding destinationssynchronized by: establishing whether the first call forwardingdestination and the second call forwarding destination refer to the samedestination; and if the first call forwarding destination and the secondcall forwarding destination do not refer to the same destination,changing at least one of the first call forwarding destination and thesecond call forwarding destination to yield the first call forwardingdestination and the second call forwarding destination referring to thesame destination.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first callforwarding destination is not set before registration of the mobilestation; and wherein synchronizing the call forwarding destinationscomprises: instructing the telephone subsystem upon registration of themobile station to set the first call forwarding destination to themobile station; and instructing the wireless subsystem to clear thesecond call forwarding destination.
 3. The method of claim 1, whereinthe first call forwarding destination is set to a destination other thanthe mobile station before registration of the mobile station; andwherein synchronizing the call forwarding destinations comprisesinstructing the wireless subsystem upon registration of the mobilestation to set the second call forwarding destination to the samedestination as the first call forwarding destination.
 4. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the second call forwarding destination is set to adestination other than the telephonic device after registration of themobile station; and wherein synchronizing the call forwardingdestinations comprises instructing the telephone subsystem to set thefirst call forwarding destination to the same destination as the secondcall forwarding destination.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the firstcall forwarding destination is set to a destination other than themobile station after registration of the mobile station; and whereinsynchronizing the call forwarding destinations comprises instructing thewireless subsystem to set the second call forwarding destination to thesame destination as the first call forwarding destination.
 6. The methodof claim 1, wherein the second call forwarding destination is clearedafter registration of the mobile station; and wherein synchronizing thecall forwarding destinations comprises instructing the telephonesubsystem to set the first call forwarding destination to the mobilestation.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first call forwardingdestination is cleared after registration of the mobile station; andwherein synchronizing the call forwarding destinations comprises:starting a timer; instructing the telephone subsystem to set the firstcall forwarding destination to the mobile station and instructing thewireless subsystem to clear the second call forwarding destination if anew destination is not provided before the timer elapses; andinstructing the telephone subsystem to set the first call forwardingdestination to the new destination and instructing the wirelesssubsystem to set the second call forwarding destination to the samedestination as the first call forwarding destination if the newdestination is provided before the timer elapses.
 8. The method of claim1, wherein synchronizing the call forwarding destinations comprises:determining upon deregistration of the mobile station if the first callforwarding destination is set to the mobile station; and instructing thetelephone subsystem to clear the first call forwarding destination ifthe first call forwarding destination is set to the mobile station.
 9. Asystem for call forwarding synchronization, comprising: at least onecomputer processable medium; and logic encoded on the at least onecomputer processable medium and operable to: allow a telephone subsystemto forward calls for a telephonic device to a first call forwardingdestination; allow a wireless subsystem to forward calls for a mobilestation to a second call forwarding destination, the mobile stationassociated with the telephonic device; determine a registration state ofthe mobile station; and synchronize the call forwarding destinations forthe mobile station and the telephonic device in response to a change toat least one of the registration state, the first call forwardingdestination, and the second call forwarding destination, the logicfurther operable to synchronize the call forwarding destinations by:establishing whether the first call forwarding destination and thesecond call forwarding destination refer to the same destination; and ifthe first call forwarding destination and the second call forwardingdestination do not refer to the same destination, changing at least oneof the first call forwarding destination and the second call forwardingdestination to yield the first call forwarding destination and thesecond call forwarding destination referring to the same destination.10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first call forwarding destinationis not set before registration of the mobile station; and wherein thelogic is operable to synchronize the call forwarding destinations by:instructing the telephone subsystem upon registration of the mobilestation to set the first call forwarding destination to the mobilestation; and instructing the wireless subsystem to clear the second callforwarding destination.
 11. The system of claim 9, wherein the firstcall forwarding destination is set to a destination other than themobile station before registration of the mobile station; and whereinthe logic is operable to synchronize the call forwarding destinations byinstructing the wireless subsystem upon registration of the mobilestation to set the second call forwarding destination to the samedestination as the first call forwarding destination.
 12. The system ofclaim 9, wherein the second call forwarding destination is set to adestination other than the telephonic device after registration of themobile station; and wherein the logic is operable to synchronize thecall forwarding destinations by instructing the telephone subsystem toset the first call forwarding destination to the same destination as thesecond call forwarding destination.
 13. The system of claim 9, whereinthe first call forwarding destination is set to a destination other thanthe mobile station after registration of the mobile station; and whereinthe logic is operable to synchronize the call forwarding destinations byinstructing the wireless subsystem to set the second call forwardingdestination to the same destination as the first call forwardingdestination.
 14. The system of claim 9, wherein the second callforwarding destination is cleared after registration of the mobilestation; and wherein the logic is operable to synchronize the callforwarding destinations by instructing the telephone subsystem to setthe first call forwarding destination to the mobile station.
 15. Thesystem of claim 9, wherein the first call forwarding destination iscleared after registration of the mobile station; and wherein the logicis operable to synchronize the call forwarding destinations by: startinga timer; instructing the telephone subsystem to set the first callforwarding destination to the mobile station and instructing thewireless subsystem to clear the second call forwarding destination if anew destination is not provided before the timer elapses; andinstructing the telephone subsystem to set the first call forwardingdestination to the new destination and instructing the wirelesssubsystem to set the second call forwarding destination to the samedestination as the first call forwarding destination if the newdestination is provided before the timer elapses.
 16. The system ofclaim 9, wherein the logic is operable to synchronize the callforwarding destinations by: determining upon deregistration of themobile station if the first call forwarding destination is set to themobile station; and instructing the telephone subsystem to clear thefirst call forwarding destination if the first call forwardingdestination is set to the mobile station.
 17. A system for callforwarding synchronization, comprising: a telephone subsystem operableto communicate with a telephonic device, the telephone subsystem alsooperable to forward calls for the telephonic device to a first callforwarding destination; and a wireless subsystem operable to communicatewith a mobile station, the mobile station associated with the telephonicdevice, the wireless subsystem also operable to forward calls for themobile station to a second call forwarding destination, the wirelesssubsystem further operable to determine a registration state of themobile station and to synchronize the call forwarding destinations forthe mobile station and the telephonic device in response to a change toat least one of the registration state, the first call forwardingdestination, and the second call forwarding destination, the wirelesssubsystem further operable to synchronize the call forwardingdestination by: establishing whether the first call forwardingdestination and the second call forwarding destination refer to the samedestination; and if the first call forwarding destination and the secondcall forwarding destination do not refer to the same destination,changing at least one of the first call forwarding destination and thesecond call forwarding destination to yield the first call forwardingdestination and the second call forwarding destination referring to thesame destination.
 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the first callforwarding destination is not set before registration of the mobilestation; and wherein the wireless subsystem is operable to synchronizethe call forwarding destinations by: instructing the telephone subsystemupon registration of the mobile station to set the first call forwardingdestination to the mobile station; and clearing the second callforwarding destination.
 19. The system of claim 17, wherein the firstcall forwarding destination is set to a destination other than themobile station before registration of the mobile station; and whereinthe wireless subsystem is operable to synchronize the call forwardingdestinations by setting the second call forwarding destination to thesame destination as the first call forwarding destination uponregistration of the mobile station.
 20. The system of claim 17, whereinthe second call forwarding destination is set to a destination otherthan the telephonic device after registration of the mobile station; andwherein the wireless subsystem is operable to synchronize the callforwarding destinations by instructing the telephone subsystem to setthe first call forwarding destination to the same destination as thesecond call forwarding destination.
 21. The system of claim 17, whereinthe first call forwarding destination is set to a destination other thanthe mobile station after registration of the mobile station; and whereinthe wireless subsystem is operable to synchronize the call forwardingdestinations by setting the second call forwarding destination to thesame destination as the first call forwarding destination.
 22. Thesystem of claim 17, wherein the second call forwarding destination iscleared after registration of the mobile station; and wherein thewireless subsystem is operable to synchronize the call forwardingdestinations by instructing the telephone subsystem to set the firstcall forwarding destination to the mobile station.
 23. The system ofclaim 17, wherein the first call forwarding destination is cleared afterregistration of the mobile station; and wherein the wireless subsystemis operable to synchronize the call forwarding destinations by: startinga timer; instructing the telephone subsystem to set the first callforwarding destination to the mobile station and clearing the secondcall forwarding destination if a new destination is not provided beforethe timer elapses; and instructing the telephone subsystem to set thefirst call forwarding destination to the new destination and setting thesecond call forwarding destination to the same destination as the firstcall forwarding destination if the new destination is provided beforethe timer elapses.
 24. The system of claim 17, wherein the wirelesssubsystem is operable to synchronize the call forwarding destinationsby: determining upon deregistration of the mobile station if the firstcall forwarding destination is set to the mobile station; andinstructing the telephone subsystem to clear the first call forwardingdestination if the first call forwarding destination is set to themobile station.
 25. The system of claim 17, wherein the wirelesssubsystem comprises: a base station operable to communicate with themobile station; a wireless adjunct internet platform operable tocommunicate with the base station; a gateway operable to communicatewith the wireless adjunct internet platform and the telephone subsystem;and a gatekeeper operable to generate signaling messages to control thetelephone subsystem.
 26. The system of claim 25, wherein: the telephonesubsystem comprises a private branch exchange; the wireless adjunctinternet platform is operable to communicate with the mobile stationthrough the base station using a Global System for Mobile communication(GSM) standard; and the wireless adjunct internet platform, the gateway,and the gatekeeper communication using an InternationalTelecommunications Union-Telecommunications (ITU-T) H.323 standard. 27.A method for call forwarding synchronization, comprising: allowing atelephone subsystem to forward calls for a telephonic device to a firstcall forwarding destination; allowing a wireless subsystem to forwardcalls for a mobile station to a second call forwarding destination, themobile station associated with the telephonic device; synchronizing thecall forwarding destinations by: establishing whether the first callforwarding destination and the second call forwarding destination referto the same destination; and if the first call forwarding destinationand the second call forwarding destination do not refer to the samedestination, changing at least one of the first call forwardingdestination and the second call forwarding destination to yield thefirst call forwarding destination and the second call forwardingdestination referring to the same destination; determining aregistration state of the mobile station; instructing the telephonesubsystem upon registration of the mobile station to set the first callforwarding destination to the mobile station and instructing thewireless subsystem to clear the second call forwarding destination ifthe first call forwarding destination is not set; instructing thewireless subsystem upon registration of the mobile station to set thesecond call forwarding destination to the same destination as the firstcall forwarding destination if the first call forwarding destination isset to a destination other than the mobile station; instructing thetelephone subsystem to set the first call forwarding destination to thesame destination as the second call forwarding destination if the secondcall forwarding destination is set to a destination other than thetelephonic device after registration of the mobile station; instructingthe wireless subsystem to set the second call forwarding destination tothe same destination as the first call forwarding destination if thefirst call forwarding destination is set to a destination other than themobile station after registration of the mobile station; instructing thetelephone subsystem to set the first call forwarding destination to themobile station if the second call forwarding destination is clearedafter registration of the mobile station; instructing the telephonesubsystem to set the first call forwarding destination to the mobilestation and instructing the wireless subsystem to clear the second callforwarding destination if a new destination is not provided before atimer elapses when the first call forwarding destination is clearedafter registration of the mobile station; instructing the telephonesubsystem to set the first call forwarding destination to a newdestination and instructing the wireless subsystem to set the secondcall forwarding destination to the same destination as the first callforwarding destination if a new destination is provided before the timerelapses when the first call forwarding destination is cleared afterregistration of the mobile station; and instructing the telephonesubsystem upon deregistration of the mobile station to clear the firstcall forwarding destination if the first call forwarding destination isset to the mobile station.
 28. A system for call forwardingsynchronization, comprising: at least one computer processable medium;and logic encoded on the at least one computer processable medium andoperable to: allow a telephone subsystem to forward calls for atelephonic device to a first call forwarding destination; allow awireless subsystem to forward calls for a mobile station to a secondcall forwarding destination, the mobile station associated with thetelephonic device; synchronize the call forwarding destinations by:establishing whether the first call forwarding destination and thesecond call forwarding destination refer to the same destination; and ifthe first call forwarding destination and the second call forwardingdestination do not refer to the same destination, changing at least oneof the first call forwarding destination and the second call forwardingdestination to yield the first call forwarding destination and thesecond call forwarding destination referring to the same destination:determine a registration state of the mobile station; instruct thetelephone subsystem upon registration of the mobile station to set thefirst call forwarding destination to the mobile station and instructingthe wireless subsystem to clear the second call forwarding destinationif the first call forwarding destination is not set; instruct thewireless subsystem upon registration of the mobile station to set thesecond call forwarding destination to the same destination as the firstcall forwarding destination if the first call forwarding destination isset to a destination other than the mobile station; instruct thetelephone subsystem to set the first call forwarding destination to thesame destination as the second call forwarding destination if the secondcall forwarding destination is set to a destination other than thetelephonic device after registration of the mobile station; instruct thewireless subsystem to set the second call forwarding destination to thesame destination as the first call forwarding destination if the firstcall forwarding destination is set to a destination other than themobile station after registration of the mobile station; instruct thetelephone subsystem to set the first call forwarding destination to themobile station if the second call forwarding destination is clearedafter registration of the mobile station; instruct the telephonesubsystem to set the first call forwarding destination to the mobilestation and instructing the wireless subsystem to clear the second callforwarding destination if a new destination is not provided before atimer elapses when the first call forwarding destination is clearedafter registration of the mobile station; instruct the telephonesubsystem to set the first call forwarding destination to a newdestination and instructing the wireless subsystem to set the secondcall forwarding destination to the same destination as the first callforwarding destination if a new destination is provided before the timerelapses when the first call forwarding destination is cleared afterregistration of the mobile station; and instruct the telephone subsystemupon deregistration of the mobile station to clear the first callforwarding destination if the first call forwarding destination is setto the mobile station.
 29. A system for call forwarding synchronization,comprising: a telephone subsystem operable to communicate with atelephonic device, the telephone subsystem also operable to forwardcalls for the telephonic device to a first call forwarding destination;a wireless subsystem operable to communicate with a mobile station, themobile station associated with the telephonic device, the wirelesssubsystem comprising: a base station operable to communicate with themobile station over a wireless interface; a wireless adjunct internetplatform operable to communicate with the base station; a gatewayoperable to communicate with the wireless adjunct internet platform andthe telephone subsystem; a gatekeeper operable to forward calls for themobile station to a second call forwarding destination and to determinea registration state of the mobile station; the gatekeeper operable tosynchronize the call forwarding destinations by: establishing whetherthe first call forwarding destination and the second call forwardingdestination refer to the same destination; and if the first callforwarding destination and the second call forwarding destination do notrefer to the same destination, changing at least one of the first callforwarding destination and the second call forwarding destination toyield the first call forwarding destination and the second callforwarding destination referring to the same destination: the gatekeeperoperable to instruct the telephone subsystem upon registration of themobile station to set the first call forwarding destination to themobile station and to clear the second call forwarding destination ifthe first call forwarding destination is not set; the gatekeeperoperable upon registration of the mobile station to set the second callforwarding destination to the same destination as the first callforwarding destination if the first call forwarding destination is setto a destination other than the mobile station; the gatekeeper operableto instruct the telephone subsystem to set the first call forwardingdestination to the same destination as the second call forwardingdestination if the second call forwarding destination is set to adestination other than the telephonic device after registration of themobile station; the gatekeeper operable to set the second callforwarding destination to the same destination as the first callforwarding destination if the first call forwarding destination is setto a destination other than the mobile station after registration of themobile station; the gatekeeper operable to instruct the telephonesubsystem to set the first call forwarding destination to the mobilestation if the second call forwarding destination is cleared afterregistration of the mobile station; the gatekeeper operable to instructthe telephone subsystem to set the first call forwarding destination tothe mobile station and to clear the second call forwarding destinationif a new destination is not provided before a timer elapses when thefirst call forwarding destination is cleared after registration of themobile station; the gatekeeper operable to instruct the telephonesubsystem to set the first call forwarding destination to a newdestination and to set the second call forwarding destination to thesame destination as the first call forwarding destination if a newdestination is provided before the timer elapses when the first callforwarding destination is cleared after registration of the mobilestation; and the gatekeeper operable to instruct the telephone subsystemupon deregistration of the mobile station to clear the first callforwarding destination if the first call forwarding destination is setto the mobile station.
 30. A system for call forwarding synchronization,comprising: a telephone subsystem operable to communicate with atelephonic device (1310), the telephone subsystem also operable toforward calls for the telephonic device (1310) to a first callforwarding destination; a client operable to communicate with thetelephonic subsystem, the client associated with the telephonic device;a gateway operable to communicate with the client; and a gatekeeperoperable to instruct the gateway to forward calls for the client to asecond call forwarding destination, the gatekeeper also operable todetermine an activation state of the client and to synchronize the callforwarding destinations for the telephonic device and the client inresponse to a change to at least one of the activation state, the firstcall forwarding destination, and the second call forwarding destination,the gatekeeper further operable to synchronize the call forwardingdestinations by: establishing whether the first call forwardingdestination and the second call forwarding destination refer to the samedestination; and if the first call forwarding destination and the secondcall forwarding destination do nor refer to the same destination,changing at least one of the first call forwarding destination and thesecond call forwarding destination to yield the first call forwardingdestination and the second call forwarding destination referring to thesame destination.
 31. The system of claim 30, wherein: the clientcomprises a gateway to a wireless subsystem, the wireless subsystemoperable to communicate with a mobile station; the client activates whenthe mobile station registers with the wireless subsystem; and the clientdeactivates when the mobile station deregisters with the wirelesssubsystem.
 32. The system of claim 30, wherein the client comprises atleast one of a voice over packet telephone, a computing device, and agateway operable to communicate with another communication system.
 33. Amethod for call forwarding synchronization, comprising: allowing atelephone subsystem to forward calls for a telephonic device to a firstcall forwarding destination; allowing a gateway to forward calls for aclient to a second call forwarding destination, the client associatedwith the telephonic device; determining an activation state of theclient; and synchronizing the call forwarding destinations for thetelephonic device and the client in response to a change to at least oneof the activation state, the first call forwarding destination, and thesecond call forwarding destination, the call forwarding destinationssynchronized by: establishing whether the first call forwardingdestination and the second call forwarding destination refer to the samedestination; and if the first call forwarding destination and the secondcall forwarding destination do not refer to the same destination,changing at least one of the first call forwarding destination and thesecond call forwarding destination to yield the first call forwardingdestination and the second call forwarding destination referring to thesame destination.
 34. The method of claim 33, wherein: the clientcomprises a gateway to a wireless subsystem, the wireless subsystemoperable to communicate with a mobile station; the client activates whenthe mobile station registers with the wireless subsystem; and the clientdeactivates when the mobile station deregisters with the wirelesssubsystem.
 35. The method of claim 33, wherein the client comprises atleast one of a voice over packet telephone, a computing device, and agateway operable to communicate with another communication system.
 36. Asystem for call forwarding synchronization, comprising: at least onecomputer processable medium; and logic encoded on the at least onecomputer processable medium and operable to: allow a telephone subsystemto forward calls for a telephonic device to a first call forwardingdestination; allow a gateway to forward calls for a client to a secondcall forwarding destination, the client associated with the telephonicdevice; determine an activation state of the client; and synchronize thecall forwarding destinations for the telephonic device and the client inresponse to a change to at least one of the activation state, the firstcall forwarding destination, and the second call forwarding destination,the logic further operable to synchronize the call forwardingdestinations by; establishing whether the first call forwardingdestination and the second call forwarding destination refer to the samedestination; and if the first call forwarding destination and the secondcall forwarding destination do not refer to the same destination,changing at least one of the first call forwarding destination and thesecond call forwarding destination to yield the first call forwardingdestination and the second call forwarding destination referring to thesame destination.
 37. The system of claim 36, wherein: the clientcomprises a gateway to a wireless subsystem, the wireless subsystemoperable to communicate with a mobile station; the client activates whenthe mobile station registers with the wireless subsystem; and the clientdeactivates when the mobile station deregisters with the wirelesssubsystem.
 38. The system of claim 36, wherein the client comprises atleast one of a voice over packet telephone, a computing device, and agateway operable to communicate with another communication system.